Hockaday: Individual errors cost Rovers

DAVID Hockaday cited individual errors for Forest Green’s failure to maintain their admirable unbeaten away record at Hayes and Yeading last night.

Rovers may have held the lion’s share of possession, but once again the lack of cutting edge in the penalty box and sloppy defending proved to be Rovers’ undoing.

Hayes substitute Tom Collins smashed in two killer blows in the 61st and 83rd minutes to punish Hockaday’s side.

He said:"We made two individual errors and we've gifted them two goals.

"I think we've played very well football-wise, had a lot of chances and haven't taken them.

"If you don't take chances you are not going to win games. If you make individual errors, which you can't cater for, then you will lose games."

Earlier, Hockaday tinkered with the side that crafted a 0-0 draw at Fleetwood Town on Saturday.

New loan signing from Wycombe Wanderers Andy Sandell came in up front and James Rowe and Jake Thomson started ahead of Yan Klukowski and Curtis McDonald.

A cross from Chris Stokes caused early panic in the Hayes defence, and James Norwood's strike forced keeper Steve Arnold to save.

Rovers were comfortable, but Luke Graham did well to get a block on after Louie Soares ran into the box.

Moments later Pierre Joseph-Dubois saw his deflected strike and on the roof of James Bittner's net.

Experienced striker Richard Pacquette –who had a pre-season trial at Rovers– met the resulting corner but he could not keep his header down.

Five minutes before the break winger Jake Thomson thought he had opened the scoring, turning home a Stokes cross, but an offside flag halted his celebrations.

Rovers looked for an opening after the break.

Sandell and Norwood linked impressively on 54 minutes, the latter meeting a downward header with a volley that went wide.

However, Rovers were hit on the counter and were caught desperately out of shape as Williams picked out Joseph-Dubois in space, and he had time to look up and roll the ball across the area for Collins to beat James Bittner with ease.

Rovers searched for a way back in. Free-kick specialist Sandell tried to hit back with a set play from 30 yards, forcing Arnold into a smart save.

Moments later Thomson scuffed a shot wide.Hayes remained threatening on the break and Bittner did well to block a Collins shot on 77 minutes